Her voice rose into a shrill, despairing cry; then she dropped down helpless, sobbing and moaning, but still holding by Catherine’s hand and her dress, whatever she could grasp at, in a passion of incredulity and despair.
Then Catherine, who had been so stately, sank back into her chair.
“I can’t bear any more,” she said, “I can’t bear any more. For the love of God take her away!”
But it was only the sudden appearance of Harry which put an end to this painful scene. He gathered his sister up in his arms, while her husband was ineffectually intreating and reasoning with her, and carried her out of the room, with a severity and sternness which silenced the young pair.
“Look here,” he said, taking them into the deserted library which had been Edward’s room, “we are all in the same box. He has ruined her and us all. You, out of your own confounded folly, the rest of us—I can’t tell you how. He has ruined her. God—forgive him!” cried Harry, with a long pause, bringing out the last words with a violent effort. “But, look here! The only hope we have of pulling through is in her. They can’t let Catherine Vernon be ruined in Redborough. I don’t think it’s in the heart of man to do it; but if we drive her into her grave, as you’ve been trying to do—”
“Oh, Harry, how dare you say so! I only went to her—where should I go?—and I thought it would be all right. I thought it was dreadful, but I never believed it, for I know Aunt Catherine—”
“Ellen, hold your tongue, for God’s sake! If we kill her, it’s all up with us. Hasn’t she got enough to bear? I brought a cab when I knew you were here. Take her home, Algy, and keep her quiet, and let’s meet and talk over it like men,” Harry said, severely.
He had never so asserted himself in all his life before. They hurried her out between them to the cab, much against Ellen’s will, who wanted explanations, and to know if it was true that Aunt Catherine couldn’t, couldn’t if she would; and then told them, sobbing, that if it was so, none of them could afford to pay for a cab, and why, why should ruined people spend a shilling when they had not got it? The cabman heard part of these protestations, and Marshall another part. But on the whole both Algernon and Harry were more occupied with her in her transport, more anxious for its consequences, more tender of her, than if she had been the most self-commanded and heroic woman in the world.
When this tempest of interruption swept away, Catherine was still for a few minutes more. Then she called Hester to her in a voice of exhaustion.
“I think,” she said, “it has done me no harm. Anything is better than that which—is always behind. And I must do nothing to hurt myself before tomorrow. Was not Harry there? He may have something to tell me. Let him come and say it to you. You are quick witted, and you will understand; and if it is worth writing, write it down. I will not take any part. I will keep still here. If it rouses me, so much the better. If not, you will listen for me with your young ears, and forget nothing. I must save myself, you see, for tomorrow.”
“I will forget nothing,” Hester said.
Catherine smiled faintly, with her eyes closed.
“I had thought of making you bring me some wine. There is some Tokay in the cellar; but one always pays for a strong stimulant, and this is the better way. You are young, and you are a Vernon too. Bend your mind to it. Think of nothing but the business in hand.”
“I will,” said Hester, with solemnity, as if she were pronouncing the words before a judge.
Catherine took hold of her dress when she was going away.
“One thing,” she said. “I think you and I have hated each other because we were meant to love each other, child.”
“I think I have always done both,” said Hester.
The faint sound that broke through the stillness was not like Catherine’s laugh. She patted the girl’s arm softly with her hand. Their amity was too new to bear caresses.
“Now go and do your work, for your honour and mine,” she said.
It appeared that Harry had much to say. It was strange to have to say it all to the young and eager listener, her eyes glowing with interest and anxiety, who was not content with any one statement, but questioned and investigated till she had brought out every point of meaning, while the real authority sat by silent, her eyes closed, her hands clasped, like an image of repose. Both the young people kept their eyes upon her. There was not a movement which Hester did not watch, while she exerted her faculties to comprehend everything that Harry told her, and put down everything that seemed at all important. The impulse carried her over her own share of the individual misery. Everything else disappeared before the paramount importance of this. When all that Harry had to say was said, there arose a silence between them which had the effect which nothing before had of rousing Catherine. She opened her eyes and looked at them kindly.
“Everything has been done as I wished,” she said. “I have gleaned something, and the rest you will tell me, Hester, tomorrow. It has been a rest to me to hear your voices. You can expect me, Harry, at the same hour.”
“Is it not too much for you, Aunt Catherine? It is everything for us that you should come.”
“I will come,” she said. “It is easier than staying at home. Fatigue is salvation. Now I am going to bed, to sleep.
